FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 21992, 30 March 1935, Page 12

FRUIT AND PRODUCE

Bray Bros. Ltd. report as follows for the week ending yesterday:— The volume of samples of milling wheat on offer is diminishing, as threshing is now about completed in this district. The same position applies in Canterbury. The increment of Id per bushel under the advances to farmers will be in evidence in the latter province next month. The quality of the wheat offering in the South Island still shows variation. Northern samples are not nearly so good as in previous years, but on the other hand, the southern-grown wheat is in most instances of good quality. The advanced prices to farmers for wheat in Otago for the month of March and April are still on a basis of 4s f.0.b., for Tuscan. The fowl wheat market for shipment is controlled by Canterbury, where stocks held by tbe Wheat Purchase Board arc being called on for poultry feeding. The wheat is being sold on a basis of 4s 4d, f.0.b., sacks extra. Locally Ibere is little fowl wheat available. The value in Dunedin is round about 4s 6d per bushel, sacks extra, ex store. Merchants are finding it difficult to secure stocks, as most of the wheat -is being passed for milling. ' Millers’ prices for flour, etc., are as follows :—- Flour: 2001 b, £l2 12s; 100's, £l2 17s; SO’s, £l3 2s; 25’s, £l3 7s, Bran: £5 per ton. Pollard: £5 15s per ton. Oatmeal: 2001 b, £l9; 25’s, £2l. The oat market continues firm.' There are few orders coming from the North Island, and at present the shipping offers are 3s Id, f.0.b., s.i., for A Cartons, and 2s lOd for B’s. On a shipping parity the price of A Gartons to farmers, country sidings, is 2s 9d, sacks extra, with B’s ruling at 2s 6d. Most grower? are, however, holding out for 3s, on trucks, but in view of the limited outlet for shipment merchants are neglecting th© market as they are not prepared to pay th© prices asked. The chaff market continues firm, with stocks in store on the light side. Th© bulk of the chaff is still being procured from Canterbury. Best quality is to-day worth £5 per ton, sacks extra, ex truck, and for lots ex the store, another 5s par ton is obtainable. A quiet period is being experienced in the potato market. Local distributors report that there is a very poor trade, and that more potatoes are arriving on the market than can b© absorbed at this time of the year. It is difficult to maintain prices, which are £5 10s to £6 per ton, according to quality. Most of the growers in this district are still holding out for high prices for delivery ahead, but merchants are not prepared to do business at-the figures asked. Agents report that the South Canterbury main crop is up to th© average, but that until digging commences, and an idea can be obtained of the returns from this particular district, the market is inclined to be uncertain.

During the week there lias been a fair trade in wholesale lines of seeds. North Island merchants have been again enquiring for seeds for sowing out. The market generally continues unchanged, with ryegrass remaining steady and also other seeds. _ The stone fruit season is quickly drawing to a close, and only small lots of peaches and plums are now on offer, Sound quality peaches and plums ha,ve ,a much better, demand, but inferior grades are still hard to quit, even at low rates.

Apples are in full supply. Large quantities of Jonathans are arriving from Nelson, and Cox’s Orange Pippins and Jonathans are coming forward from Central Otago, The market is weak, and sales are slow.

Dessert pears have a Sound inquiry, and any good lines coining to hand are realising satisfactory prices. Cookers are in good supply. Grapes are fairly plentiful, but some lines are in an condition. A shipment of Californian lemons and oranges is expected towards the end of next week. The market is bare - at present of both lines.

Tho last shipment of Samoan and Niue Island bananas is ripening slowly, and is passing into retailers’ hands in limited quantities. Heavy supplies of jam melons are in wholesalers’ hands, but up to the present sales are slow. Cauliflowers are in. better supply. There is a good demand for all classes of vegetables, and fair prices are being obtained. Wholesale prices are as follows : Apples—Jonathans, 3s 6d to 6s; Delicious, 4s 6d to 6s 6d; Cox’s Orange, 4s 6d to 7s 6d. Pears —W.8.C., wanted, 7s 6d to 10s bushel cases; Jargonelle, 5s to 6s 9d. Oranges Jamaican, “ Juciful ” brand, 25s to 345; Californian, 36s to 41s. Lemons —Californian, 41s 6d to 45s 6d; New Zealand, to 15s. Grapefruit, 375. Peaches—Crated, 2id to 31 d lb; cased, 2s 6d to 4s 9d. Blackberries, wanted, 3s 6d to 5s 6d tin. Tomatoes—Christchurch hothouse, to 4icl lb; outside grown, Id to 2d lb; local firsts, 3£d to 5d lb; local seconds, 2d to 3d lb. Bananas, ripe, to 23s 6d. Pineapples, 21s to 235. Cucumbers, Is to 3s dozen; cased, Is to 3s case. Green peas, 2jd to 4d Jb. Potatoes, £6 to £6 10s ton. Cabbages, wanted, 5s to 7s bag. Cauliflowers, 7s to 9s sack. Lettuces, Is to 2s 6d dozen. Onions, 17s to 20s cwt. Marrows, 4s to 5s 6cl cwt. Melons, 5s 6d to 7s cwt. Pumpkins, 9s to 10s cwt. Beans, lid to 2d lb. Bulk honey, to 4sd lb. Beeswax, Is Id lb. Butter, storekeeper, wanted, 7d to 8d lb. Eggs, market rates. Oyster grit, 7s cwt. Fowl wheat, 4s lOd bushel. Oats —A Gavton, 3s Id bushel; B Garton, 2s lOd; crushed oats, 9s 6d. Cross Keys meatmeal, 16s bushel. Chaff, £5 per ton. Straw wheaten, £2 10s ton. Cheese, 5d to sid lb. Lard, 6id lb. Macdonald and Miller’s Gold Medal bacon, to Is Id lb. DAIRY PRODUCE Messrs Dalgety and Co. Ltd. have received the following cable from London, dated March 28:—The butter _ and cheese markets are firm. Quotations: Danish butter, fo.b., 80s to 82s; New Zealand finest butter, 765; Australian finest unsalted butter, 75s to 765; Australian finest salted butter, 73s to 745; Australian G.A.Q., 71s. Australian cheese white, not quoted; coloured, not quoted; New Zealand cheese—white. 465; coloured, 47s to 47s 6d: Canadian—white, 58s to 625; coloured, 58s to 625; c.i.f.,-not quoted.

HUODART PARKER LTD. • CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS TO SHAREHOLDERS In. his address to shareholders at the twenty-third annual meeting of Huddart Parker Ltd. at Melbourne, on March 8, the chairman (Mr J. L. Webb) said that the profit for the year under review showed a satisfactory advance on the figures of the three previous years, and the directors were pleased to bo able to increase the dividends to 7 per cent, for the year. There had been an improvement in both cargo and passenger traffic, also in the interest return from investments and in dividends received from the several companies in which they had holdings, in the bal-ance-sheet the principal alteration was in respect of “ Steamships, Properties, and Shares m other (Companies ”; in this item in addition to the usual depreciation on the fleet they had made further provision -for the reduced value of their colliery holdings. Subsidiary Companies. Hebburn Limited had maintained its increased output of coal, but the prices obtained had nob been satisfactory. The reconstruction of the Metropolitan Colliery and plant had been completed, and it was expected that the colliery would shortly re-commenco operations. The Taroona, the new vessel for Tasmanian Steamers Pty. Ltd., reached Melbourne on February 28, but owing to the refusal of the Seamen’s Union to follow the usual practice and accept the decision of the Manning Committee as to the number of deck hands to be employed, she had not yet taken her place in the Melbourne-Launceston service for which she was constructed. She should be a suitable vessel for the trade. General.—The vessels had run without serious accident throughout the year. Tho Ulimaroa, after many years of service, mostly in the Sydney-New Zealand trade, where she had earned a wide popularity, was laid up wheu the Wanganella was purchased, and as there was no prospect of further employment, she was sold during the year to Japanese buyers. One of their Sydney cargo lighters had been sold as it was found that she was mot required. Very considerable improvements had been effected in the passenger accommodation of the Zealandia, which vessel was engaged in the Sydney-Hobart service. The dining saloon, lounge, and smoking room had been re-conditioned, the cabin accommodation re-arranged with a number of two-berth cabins, hot water service installed in the cabins, and the promenade deck enclosed with windows; with these alterations she should prove an attractive vessel and meet the requirements of the passenger trade between Sydney and Hobart. He was sorry to say that Mr G. Robins, assistant manager at Sydney, had to retire owing to ill-health, and ho also had to record with regret, the death of Mr J. Whelan, who had charge of their stores department for many years, and was altogether fiftytwo years in the service. At the first meeting of the -company as a public company the late Mr W. T. Appleton, in his chairman’s address to the shareholders, referred to the establishment of a superannuation fund. This fund was gradually built up, and had been utilised from time to time in providing retiring allowances for the staff and their dependants as occasions arose; this year, however, the directors decided to place the fund on an actuarial basis as a separate entity, and to effect this four trustees were appointed, two from the board, and two from the staff, and the sum of £20.000 was transferred to the trustees. The rules provide for annual contributions by the employees and by the company, and for retiring allowances calculated, on tl\e length of

service and amount of salary of ths officer. Tho Huddart Parker Staff Provident Fund came into operation on February 1, last. He expressed his appreciation of the work of thf staff both ashore and afloat.

NEW GUINEA GOLD SNARES « Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyrighf LONDON, March 29. (Received March 30, at 11 a.m.) New Guinea Gold shares are quoted a.t 4s 2£d. PRICE OF 0010 Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 29. (Received March 30, at noon. ) The price of gold is quoted at £7 St 8d per oz.